Actinidia chinensis plant named ‘Z487’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Actinidia chinensis  cultivar named ‘Z487’ is disclosed, characterized by having distinctive yellow/green flesh fruit, heavy cropping and a seasonal harvest time of late February. 
     Additionally, the new variety produces fruit with very soft, slight pubescence and with a distinctive blunt stylar end shape and square shoulders. The new variety is suitable for commercial production of kiwi fruit.

Latin name of the genus and species: Actinidia chinensis.

Variety denomination: ‘Z487’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program, begun in1975 under the direction of the inventor, Donald Alfred Skelton, acitizen of New Zealand. The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietaryseedling variety referred to as Actinidia chinensis ‘A124’ The pollenparent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to asActinidia chinensis ‘RY.’

Fruit of the new variety was first evaluated in 1999 with favorableresults. After the first evaluation, the new variety was grafted onto 5seedling rootstocks; 3 of A. chinensis and 2 of A. deliciosa. Subsequentevaluations of the variety have shown the characteristics to be true totype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Z487’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Z487.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Z487’ as a new and distinct Actinidia chinensiscultivar:

-   -   1. Distinctive yellow/green flesh fruit.    -   2. Seasonal harvest time of late February.    -   3. Very soft, downy pubescence on fruit, with weak adherence to        the fruit skin.    -   4. Oblong fruit shape.    -   5. Fruit with a distinctive blunt stylar end shape and square        shoulders.

COMPARISON TO PARENT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Z487’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Actinidia chinensis ‘A124’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Z487’ producefruit that is narrower, more oblong than obloidAdditionally, fruit ofthe new variety ‘Z487’ reaches maturity for harvest approximately 8weeks earlier than ‘A124.’

As the new cultivar is a female, comparison to the pollen parent, is notprovided.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

The new variety is best compared to the commercial variety, ‘Hort16A,’U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,066. ‘Z487’ is similar to ‘Hort16A’ in manyhorticultural characteristics, however, ‘Z487’ produces matureapproximately 10 weeks earlier than ‘Hort16A.’ Additionally, the newvariety produces an a broader fruit shape. Fruit of the newvariety‘Z487’ are distinctively blunt on the stylar end, compared to thestrong pointed stylar end shape of ‘Hort16.’ Fruit shape differences canalso be noted in the shoulder shape. Whereas ‘Z487’ produces fruit withstrongly squared shoulder, ‘Hort16A’ fruit have rounded shoulders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color typicalfoliage and flowers on plants of ‘Z487.’

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical fruit, on the plant of ‘Z487.’

FIG. 3 shows examples of typical fruit harvested from ‘Z487.’

FIG. 4 is a comparison of fruit of similar varieties, including thefemale parent ‘A124’ and the commercial comparison, ‘Hort16A.’

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Z487’ plants grown under outdoor commercialtrial conditions in Rangiriri New Zealand. The growing temperatureranged from 10° C. to 25° C. with no precipitation. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Actinidia chinensis cultivar ‘Z487.’

PROPAGATION:

‘Z487’ can be successfully grafted onto rootstocks of Actnidia chinensisor Actinidia deliciosa.

PLANT

-   -   -   Age of the plant described.—Approximately 5 years.        -   Height of the plant described.—Approximately 2 years.        -   Width of the plant described.—Approximately 4 meters.        -   Rootstock of plant described.—Actinidia chinensis.        -   Sex expression.—Female.        -   Ploidy.—Diploid.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 15.5 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 16.0 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Very broadly ovate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate, not overlapping.        -   Attachment.—Petioled.        -   Margin.—Ciliate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Very slightly puckered.        -   Texture of under side.—Moderately glossy, non-pubescent.        -   Color.—Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 141A.            Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 141C.        -   Petiole.—Length: Range between 14.0–15.3 cm. Pubescence:            None. Other characteristics: Moderate anthocyanin on            upperside of petiole.

FLOWER

-   -   -   Bud break.—Late August.        -   First flower.—Mid October.        -   Diameter.—Average 4.5 cm.        -   Petal quantity.—6 to 10 per flower.        -   Petals overlapping.—Yes.        -   Primary color.—White.        -   Filament color.—White.        -   Anther color.—Brown.        -   Attitude of styles.—Semi-erect.        -   Hair on ovary.—Dense.        -   Color of ovary.—White.        -   Number of sepals.—6 to 10.        -   Color of sepals.—Near RHS Green 141C.        -   Margin of sepals.—Entire.        -   Apex of sepals.—Acute.        -   Base of sepals.—Truncate.

FRUIT

-   -   -   Color outer pericarp.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154C.        -   Color inner pericarp.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 1D.        -   Core color.—Near RHS White 158D.        -   Brix at consumption.—Minimum 16.0.        -   Brix at harvest.—Average 7.60%.        -   Average weight.—100.9 grams.        -   Minimum weight.—85 grams.        -   Maximum weight.—115 grams.        -   Length.—Avg. 65 mm.        -   Width.—Avg. 55 mm.        -   Core diameter(maximum).—12.0 mm.        -   Core diameter(minimum).—5.0 mm.        -   Locule number.—32.        -   Fruit peduncle length.—35–45 mm.        -   Fruit peduncle width.—3.0–4.0 mm.        -   General shape.—Oblong.        -   Median cross section.—Circular.        -   Stylar end shape.—Slightly blunt protruding.        -   Shoulder shape.—Squared.        -   Calyx ring.—Present.        -   Calyx ring expression.—Strong, 13–16 mm diameter.        -   Skin color at harvest.—Near RHS Grey-Orange 165D.        -   Hair on fruit skin.—Downy.        -   Hair adherence to skin.—Weak.        -   Fruit core shape.—Elliptic.        -   Core-woody spike.—Small.        -   Mature seed color.—Black.        -   Dried seed.—Brown.        -   Harvest time.—Late February.        -   Overall cropping quantity.—25 to 35 tons per hectare.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Storage life: Storage life is a minimum of 3 months at 2° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Actinidia chinensis have been    observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Actinidia chinensis plant named ’Z487’as herein illustrated and described.